Our journey to create a charming & vintage chic wedding on a budget (with a few ruffles around the edges)

The best way to get to know us would probably be a simple Q&A, so it’s perfect that our photographers asked us to answer some questions for them before our engagement shoot! Here’s a sampling of some of those questions (we answered these together)…we hope you enjoy!

Tell us about how you met. Mason: We both attended CharlotteONE (young adult church service in Charlotte on Tuesday nights). CharlotteONE created a social justice networking site for people who wanted to get involved to connect with people who were already involved with some outreach projects. Michelle put together a volunteer opportunity at The Rescue Mission in downtown Charlotte. I saw the opportunity and really wanted to get involved, but I also saw who was organizing it and I thought that she was pretty cute so I went (early) and we met. A couple of days later I asked her if she wanted to meet for a cup of coffee. Our first date lasted for several hours. I’m not sure if we’ve gone a day without talking to each other since then.

If you could decide on one song that summed up the two of you, what would it be? Mason: “The Adventure” by Angels and Airwaves, Michelle: “The Way I Am” by Ingrid Michaelson and “Brighter than Sunshine” by Aqualung

Rural/country or Urban/city?Where do you feel more at home? Mason: Both of us are more Urban/city people. Michelle: I think we like both settings and appreciate the relaxed atmosphere of the rural/country setting which is why we are getting married in it! But right now we are definitely urbanites who love enjoying all the unique neighborhoods of Charlotte.

Tell us a little about the engagement. Mason: I set up a date night and told Michelle that we were going to go to one of our favorite restaurants, Zio. I picked her up from her house and drove us to the church where CharlotteONE meets. We walked up on the steps of the church where I gave her a charm for her bracelet and told her how much she means to me. We started to walk back to the car and I stopped her and pulled the ring out of my other pocket and told her that I had something else to tell her. I told her that I wanted to spend the rest of my life with her and asked her to marry me. She said yes. We went and had a drink to celebrate at our favorite bar and then went to Zio to eat dinner. When we got to Zio, both of our families were waiting there to celebrate with us during dinner. I thought it was a great night. Michelle: It was a perfect surprise and so fitting for the things that are important to me! It is HARD to surprise me too! 🙂